A Tawny Owl in the Wild
Yesterday, I had the wonderful opportunity to spot a Tawny Owl (Natugle or “Night Owl” in Danish) in the wild, all thanks to a helpful tip from a fellow wildlife photographer!
The Tawny Owl, with its soft, mottled brown feathers and large, round eyes, is a master of camouflage, blending seamlessly into its woodland habitat. Its nocturnal habits and stealthy nature make it a challenging bird to spot, let alone photograph.
After my second attempt at finding this elusive bird, I was thrilled to finally catch sight of it among the trees. It’s moments like these that remind me why I love photography – the thrill of the search and the beauty of nature.
Notice how the owl’s right eye is half-open. Owls have the ability to sleep with one eye open, a phenomenon known as unihemispheric slow-wave sleep (USWS). It is a remarkable adaptation essential for their survival, allowing them to maintain vigilance while resting, keeping one hemisphere of their brain active and alert to potential threats, even as the other hemisphere enters a state of deep sleep. This is also referred to as “peeking.”
